May These Noises Startle You at Night

Alex’s head is tucked neatly on my shoulder, in the crook of my neck. I almost inhale a breath full of blonde hair. My cheeks against her head and my arm is around her shoulders and I’m holding her loosely but closely. I’m pretty sure she’s sleeping; she can never stay awake through an entire movie unless it’s Alice In Wonderland. Even that, sometimes she falls asleep just as Alice becomes Um from Umbridge. At least in the Tim Burton adaptation, which is her favourite. She adores the cartoon one too, but she’s a Tim Burton fan so it was like mixing bananas and chocolate to her. That’s a favourite of mine, not hers. Don’t get that mixed up. Anyways.
It’s peace and quiet otherwise, with Lexi being asleep beside me. Well, almost peace and quiet. Before describing the actual scenario, you should understand the layout of the movie room. It’s like a small theatre; there’s rows of couches and bean bag chairs all set in front of one white wall, which is where the film or whatever you’re watching is projected onto. So, I’m watching the film and just at the bottom of the screen, there is a silhouette of a teenage boy who will not sit still. As if he’s completely incapable of it, or there are ants in his pants. And every time he shifts, his bean bag makes a farting sound from the leather rubbing together. I’ve finally settled into liking this film, but I can’t even get to enjoying it because of Farts McGee down in the front. I roll my eyes and slouch a bit in my seat so my foot extends far enough so I can kick the back of the bean bag Spencer is sitting in.
“Hey, Tigger. Chill out, yeah? We’re watching this movie for you.” I say in a hushed whisper, but my slouching must’ve woken up Alex anyway because she picks her head up a bit and blinks in Spencer’s direction.
Spencer leans back in his chair and after that, there’s no more squeaks from him or his chair. My gaze falls back to the screen and okay, Spencer was right. I am in a dire need for a food fight now. The kid in the movie – Max, his boarding isn’t so bad either. Granted it’s all movie magic and fake and he’s more than likely tied to something that they just edited out, but it’s cool to watch him board around.
Truthfully, that’s really the only part I paid attention to. And maybe a bit of the food fight part. And Tigger McGee sitting in front of us. It’s hard not to when his head bounces into my line of view time and time again. The kid had more energy than most five year olds, yet his wariness seemed to keep it under wraps for the most part. Apparently, that caginess only lasts so long until he’s in a dark room.
Movies only last so long when you’re not paying attention. I thin Lexi even fell asleep at one point on my shoulder, but as the credits roll, she’s awake again. Spencer twists in his seat and looks back at me expectantly as the screen fell to a black fade out.
“What?” I ask him and arch a brow.
“What now?”
I sigh softly and shake my head. “Well. This one,” I motion to the blonde, who’s leaning more and more on me. “Is starting to crash. Again. So we’re going to bed. Unless you want to chill in the black, dark room by yourself, then I’d do the same. Or wander the halls. But Hall Nazi will catch you probably.” I tell him and rub Lexi’s back as a means to wake her up a little bit. “Ready?” I ask softly to her.
She nods and sits up with a small moan or mumble or groan; a tired sound leaves her and she rubs her eyes then looks at me. Her eyes are still half lidded tiredly, making me chuckle a little bit. From the corner of my eye, I notice Spencer slump a bit in his spot.
“Go find Keaton.” I smirk. I can’t help it; it’s so obvious and frankly, kind of beneficial to me if it’s actually true. If there was actually something between them, Spencer would distract Keaton and keep him off my back. At least for a little while. Which would be great. The guy constantly breathing down my neck kills my vibe a lot. It would suck if Keaton isn’t gay.
I’m pretty sure I can only tell Spencer is because of Aubrey. After growing up with someone and then having them come out when she was thirteen, you start to notice certain things; lingering glances, little comments and when she used to light up whenever Carly from across the street would come over. Then again, noticing your sister is gay and noticing this new guy was a little different. Call it a talent or power; Captain Gaydar. Sounds good.
Lexi stands and I’m up barely a second later beside her. Quietly, and without another word to Spencer (Lexi waves though,) we walk out of the room. It’s not a long walk back to her room, a couple right turns and a left and then we’re there. I watched her peel the little elastic band from around the handle and I can’t help but smirk a little. But then a cough escapes me, and there’s a moment where my chest feels like it is two seconds from concaving and the smirk is gone.
With every cough comes the undesirable reminder of the inevitable; soon Lexi won’t have a friend around to comfort her on the bad nights. Soon Keaton won’t be chasing the wheels of a (kickass) skateboard. Soon I won’t be around. It’s going to happen and I continue to hope it doesn’t happen for a long time but there’s only so many times I can actually catch my breath after coughing. No one can survive lung cancer without treatment and I know that, but I seriously hate needles. And honestly, what kind of life is it to be constantly hooked up to tubes and IVs and shit with great limitations on what you can and can’t do? They wanted to tell me to stop skateboarding. Are you kidding me? Skateboarding is my sanity, honestly. If not Lexi, the only thing that can clear my head is boarding around. Preferably outside but I’ll take what I can get. That’s another thing I didn’t want to be a bubble kid either. They freak me out.
There are times where I figure I should start smoking now. I’ve already got the thing that most smokers (and their families) fear, what’s left to lose? But then I look at Lexi and I realize the answer; her. Or time. Both really – time with her. Sometimes I feel like letting go, after all it’s not easy coughing up all my insides nearly every time I breathe, but Lexi hates being alone. And I’m the one who refuses to leave her alone in the first place. Basically, Lexi’s my drive lately. Since the time I met her, I knew she was going to be something special or someone important. Not that she wasn’t already but, but important to me personally. I didn’t expect her to keep me here all this time.
There is fingers brushing over my shoulder and I only then realize that I had completely zoned out while sitting on the blonde’s bed.
“Sorry. What?”
Lexi grins a little, and chuckles a bit more. “Are y-you going b-back to y-your room or s-s-staying here?”
“Um,” I didn’t think about that. I shrug and look at her. “Cool if I stay here?”
“D-Duh.” She smirks a bit then twirls her finger, a small motion to get me to turn while she changes into her pajamas. As always. And I do; I spin in my spot and look at the wall, where she has one photo taped. It’s of her and her mom. I always kind of tilt my head and wonder about why she chose to put the picture up there. Her mom never helped her any, and in my opinion, she was almost just as bad as Lexi’s father. I don’t like thinking about him much. It makes me mad and my skin crawl to think that someone could hurt Lexi like her dad did. Someone so kind and frail… it made no sense in my head.
“Can I turn around now?” I ask and turn my head but only half way, a playful tease as if I’m going to completely turn on her.
“Mhm.” She mumbles quietly and when I do turn around, I see she’s changed into a pair of sweat pants that fairly oversized on her and a small, pink tank top. Pretty sure the sweat pants are mine. Her hair is let down from the messy bun and her long blonde waves hang loosely around her shoulders. Picture perfect; another reason I can’t leave her alone. Too many guys (and I can say this as one of them) will take advantage of her; she’s adorable. And beautiful, loving, caring – all the good in one little being. The last thing I want is to leave her only for a guy to come around and break her heart.
I stand from the bed and snatch a pair of sweat pants I either left here, or Lexi stole. Both are incredible possibilities. We both have bad habits of doing both. I return her twirling finger motion and she chuckles and turns just as I did. I’m quick to swap pants and tug off my sweater, leaving only a white t-shirt on.
“Alright. You’re good.” I tell her and she’s twirling on her toes to face me again. “I still don’t believe you never danced or did ballet or something.” I mention.
She shrugs. “N-Nope.” Lexi moves and sits herself down on the bed, and I’m beside her in a few seconds. She curls up, knee practically against her chest and brings the blanket up to her chin. “Night Kai.” She whispers to me.
“Night Lex.” I whisper back. I wait to hear her breathing get deeper before I too, finally fall asleep.